Island



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC F. WILLIAMS, OF BRISTOL, RHODE" ISLAND.

MANUFACTURE OF RUBBE R G OODS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o 239,209, dated March 22, 1881. Application filed January 28, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ISAAC F. WILLIAMS, of Bristol, in the county of Bristol and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Manufacture of Rubber Goods and I do hereby declare that the following specification is a clear, true, and complete description of my invention.

My said improvements relate to that class of rubber goods commonly recognized as rubber clothing, and they have special value in connection with the subdivision thereof known as gossamer rubber goods, from the fact that the textile fabrics employed therein are of a fine, delicate character, and are as lightly surfaced Wltll vulcanized gum as is consistent with the water-proof attributes required, combined with the requisite quality of lightness and compactness when not in use.

All rubber clothing should possess strength equal to or greater than ordinary clothing as commonly made, and thisis readily attainable in that class of rubber goods in which lightness or compactness is of no consequence, because strong heavy drills and other equally heavy and strong textile fabrics are employed therein, and overlapped vulcanized seams may with them be relied upon as a rule for attaining therequisite strength to successfully withstand the straining tension upon certain portions of such heavy garments as is necessarily incident to their use; and therefore such goods have been heretofore cut from unvulcanized gum sheeted fabrics put together with over lapped and cemented seams throughout, and the garment finished by vulcanization.

When the lighter gossamer fabrics were first developed they were, as with the heavy goods, cut from the unvulcanized or solarized gum gossamer fabric, put together with overlapped cemented seams, and then vulcanized or solarized to complete the garment; but this mode of manufacture resulted in goods speedily rendered of little value, because of theirinability to withstand the straining tension at those points specially liable thereto. Following said method, and to obviate the defects indicated, the sheeted gum gossamer fabric was first vulcanized or solarized, the garments cut therefrom,and the several seams fornied by hand or machine stitching. Those goods are now and have been for a long time in universal use, and, so far as the quality of strength is concerned, the requirements are fully met; but that result is accompanied with a positive defect, in that such goods,,at the prominent and weather-exposed seams, are not waterproof, regardless of the waterproof character of the fabric, because the stitch-thread serves as a conductor for water through the needle-holes, and many a delicate dress has been ruined by a ladys reliance upon her gossamer circular thus made, it not being generally comprehended that a garment cannot be rendered water-proof merely because of the material employed therein, but thatiit must also and largely depend upon its proper construction or mode of manufacture. Attempts have been heretofore made by me, with 'a view to obviating the defects cited, to make up these stitched goods from unvulcanized gossamer fabric, and thereafter vulcanizing them, so as to close up the needle, or stitch holes; but they have always provenimpracticable, because the soft, tacky condition of the gum renders the operation of stitching so difficult that it can neither be done neatly nor rapidly.

The object of my invention is to produce garments as fully water-proof as the best and as strong as the strongest; and to attain that end I have devised a novel method of manufacture, the product of which is readily (listinguished, and it obviously conveys, even to the casual observer, positive information as to the mode of manufacture involved in its production.

The main feature of my invention consistsin cutting the'main portions ofthe garments from unvulcanized sheeted fabric, uniting the parts at the weather-exposed seams by overlapping, (and the usual cementing, if needed,) then vulcanizing the garment in its partially-finished condition, and then completing the same with such parts and with such stitch-seams as may be in each case required for withstanding straining tension; and my invention further consists in rubber garments having their weather-exposed seams formed by overlapping and vulcanization, and the seams exposed to strainin g tension formed by the operation of stitching. To more fully describe my invention, I will take, for instance, a ladys gossamer circular of the general type well known, and describe, in detail, its parts,the character of the several seams as preferably arranged by me, and its mode of manufacture in accordance with my invention. The main portion of such a circular is usually composed of four sections extending from the neck to the bottom of the garment. Of these, two are back and side sections and two are front and side sections. Each back and front section is united by a long seam extending from the neck outward over the shoulder, and thence to'the bottom of thegarment. The two back sections are united bya seam extending down the center of the back from neck to near the ground. Now, in accordance with my invention as applied to circulars, these four sections are cut from the unvulcanized sheeted fabric, and they are properly united by overlapping and cementing, if need-be, and the garment thus unfinished is then vulcanized. These seams thus formed are all of the prominently weather-exposed seams, and they are rendered absolutely water-tight, an d have such strength asis necessary, because they. are not liable to be exposed to straining tension in use, inasmuch as the garment is mainly a loose enveloping protector. After vulcanization the following operations are involved; A neckband is stitched to the body of the circular, because tensile strength in the line of the neckband is essential. Moreover, to this neckband the usual capote or hood is attached, although sometimes omitted. If the hood is applied, it necessarily involves stitching, and it is therefore composed of previouslyvulcanized fabric. It usually contains an elastic cord, and a recess or channel therefor is attained by stitching two fabrics together with two lines of stitching, with the required space between them to receive the elastic cord, which must, of course, have been previously vulcanized. For protecting the interior ofsuch hood from soiling contactwith the rearofthewearers head, it is usually partially lined with a thin rubber-faced fabric, and this may be stitched or cemented, as may be desired, for it is exposed to no special strains.

The arnilioles of the circular are largely exposed to strainingand tearing tension. It is generally desirable, too, that a non-rubber faced fabric be employed as a binding therefor, because many people object to the contact of rubber with the skin. The requisite strength at these armholes is attained by me in two wayseither by stitching in a continuous line through binding which encircles each armhole, or a binding coated on one side with rubber may be applied prior to vulcanization, and united by that process to the main portion of the garment. l prefer the stitching, however, and because that enables me to use a soft-feelingfabric for the bindin mented and secured by vulcanization,

Over each armhole there is, in most cases, a shield or fly, and this, because of its location, is liable to considerable straining tension, and I therefore prefer to unite it with the body of the circular by means of stitching, although fair results would be attained if it be united by cementation and vulcanization.

To afford a proper foundation for the securin g-buttons and their holes or equivalent fastening devices, a front facing is applied at the inside of the front, on each side of the circular, and I prefer to apply said front facing by lines of stitching, because they afford not only the desired strength, but also impart a neat effect; but said faeings, serving, as they do. mainly as apart of the button-foundation,can bev applied by cementation and vulcanization with desirable results.

, To afford a neat finish at the bottom of the garment its lower edge is turned under and secured by a line or lines of stitching, as preferred by me; but if the front facings are cethe this lower finishing effect may be attained by the same means, it being understood that whenever I have referred to cementation and vulcanization as a substitute for the stitching it is to be prepared for prior to the vulcanization of the body of the garment, as already described.

The usual suspending-loop is always preferably stitched, and the buttons or other fastening devices may be either sewed on or connected, by reason of the peculiar construction of the buttons, without sewing.

The description thus given of the manner in which a circular is made by me in accordance with my invention is deemed ample for the guidance of persons skilled in the art, not only in the production of that particular article, but also many other lines of-goods involving similar conditions.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The improvement in the mzmufacture of rubber-cloth garments, substantially as hereinbefore described, which consistsin cutting the main portionsthereof from unvulcanized gumcoated fabric, uniting said portions with overlapping seains, vulcanizing the same, and then adding thereto other portions for finishing the garment, secured by stitch-seams for attaining requisite strength combined with waterproof capacity, as set forth.

2. Rubber-cloth garments containing weather-exposed seams overlapped and vulcanized, and strain-exposed seams formed by the operation of stitching, substantially as described. ISAAC F. WILLIAMS. Witnesses:

J. HENRY WEED, BENJ. M. CAREY. 

